Scrub puff



P 1967 P. BARNHOUSE 3,343,196

soRUB PUFF Filed Au 5, 1964 l N VEN TOR. P404 1 54080-0055 United States Patent 3,343,196 SCRUB PUFF Paul L. Bamhouse, 2090 College View Drive, Monterey Park, Calif. 91754 Filed Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 386,935 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-209) The present invention relates generally to cleaning devices and more particularly to a scrub puff made of an open net fabric. Because of its novel construction, the

. scrub puff of the present invention has an open or expanded construction and is, accordingly, referred to as a puff rather than a pad, although as will be seen from the following description, the device is used manually in a manner similar to the usual scrub pad.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a scrubbing device which can be made quickly and easily and which has a long life so that its usefulness is not impaired by the characteristics which make it economical.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a scrub pufi which is colorful and attractive in appearance, preferably being adapted to a variety of colors so that it can be selected by the purchaser to be in color harmony with its surroundings.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a scrub pador puff from a suitable material and having a configuration such that the puff is easily rinsed out and kept free of particles of dirt that would be objectionable. Thus the puff is clean and sanitary at all times.

It is also an object to provide a scrub pad or puff of novel construction which is adapted to a wide range of uses, being useful in the bath as well as in the kitchen.

How these and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved will be more readily understood by reference to the following description and to the annexed drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic layout in perspective showing various steps involved in the making of the scrub puff embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a scrub puff embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing in plan a section of the type of open net preferably used in making the scrub puff.

Since the puff and its construction will be better understood from a knowledge of the method of making it, a preferred method of so doing will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. The first operation is to stack on top of one another a plurality of layers of a suitable fabric. These layers 10 are preferably in the form of comparatively narrow, elongated strips of fabric which are taken off of supply rolls, not shown in the drawing, and are then moved longitudinally into position one over another as shown in FIG. 1. The four strips shown in the drawing are typical of the number of layers of fabric utilized, but it will be realized that the invention is not limited to this number and that more or fewer layers may be used as desired.

The strips 10 are fed from right to left in the drawing past a sewing station where, by means of any suitable type of sewing machine, the plurality of layers are sewn together by a centrally located, longitudinally extending seam indicated at 12. Sewing the strips together holds them in position relative to each other against either lateral or longitudinal displacement and makes it possible to handle the multiple layers as a unit during the succeeding operations.

As shown in FIG. 1, the strips 10 are fed longitudinally While in a flat condition and this condition is maintained as they pass the sewing station. Thus, when the strips are 3,343,195 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 sewn, they are lying one on top of another. The next operation is to separate and spread apart the layers. This is easily and efficiently accomplished with the aid of a suitable guide 15 comprising a pair of spaced rings 16 and 17 which act as supports for a plurality of longitudinally extending separators 18, which typically are smooth rods arranged in a circular pattern (FIG. 2). Rods 18 extend axially of and between rings 16 and 17 from which rods 18 are supported by short, radially inwardly extending posts 19. As the layers enter guide 15, they are not only separated but they are spread apart by rods 18 sufficiently that the several layers are placed in a generally cylindrical configuration during their passage from ring 16 to ring 17. This may be also seen in FIG. 2.

The procedure illustrated in FIG. 1 is designed to be a continuous method since such a method simplifies many of the operations in manufacture and results in greater economies. Each individual puff is made from a suitable length of the strips after they are sewn together; and this length can be established by feeding the end of the strips forwardly to one end of a second guide 20 which, like guide 15, is composed of a pair of spaced rings 21 and 22 which support an annular array of longitudinally extending rods 23 on radial posts 24. The length of guide 20 is preferably established to equal the desired length of material to be gathered together to form a single puff. The two guides 15 and 20 are spaced apart sufficiently to allow the passage between them of suitable cutting means, not shown, thus establishing the cutting station at the beginning of guide 20 which defines the gathering section of the apparatus.

After the desired length of material is severed from the following strips 10, the leading end of the cut length is held stationary while the trailing end is then pushed forwardly, compressing the cut length endwise, or edgewise of the individual layers of fabric, producing in each of the layers random folds, as indicated generally at 25 in FIG. 1.

While rods 23 may be straight as are rods 18, it is preferred that they have a wavy conformation in the gathering section of the apparatus. This shape favors the formation of the multiple folds in the layers of fabric.

While holding the compressed length of material in the compact configuration, it may be removed from the end of guide 20 and transported to a station where suitable fastened means are applied to hold the folds permanently in that position. This fastening can be accomplished by any suitable means, but it is preferred that the fastening means be a single metallic staple 28, as indicated in FIG. 3. The staple is preferably made of a non-ferrous alloy so that there is no rusting after contact with water.

It is preferred to provide at the gathering section 20 stapling head 30 which is mounted slidably on guide bar 31. This bar may be mounted on rings 21 and 22 as shown or otherwise suitably supported to place the stapling head above the work. With this arrangement, the stapling head is moved downwardly as indicated by arrow 32 to a position at the end of the cut length of fabric. It is then advanced, pushing the fabric ahead of it as already described to compress the layers and form the puff. At the end of the travel, the head is actuated to place staple 28, after which the puff is removed from guide section 20 and the stapling head returned to its starting position. It is preferably movable relative to bar 31 to allow it to move into stapling position and then upwardly out of the way of the advancing fabric.

Feeding the strips through the various steps of the manufacturing operation can be accomplished by any suitable means. It is assumed in the foregoing description that the strips are fed manually and that the steps of compressing the material and removing it from the end guide are accomplished in a similar manner. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and includes in its scope a completely mechanized operation in which all steps are carried out by power operated means.

The preferred type of fabric for making the puff is an open net material formed from one of the modern synthetic materials, as, for example, nylon. Suitable synthetic fibers are also made of polyesters, polyvinyls, or polyethylene, and other modern synthetic resins, commonly referred to as plastics. In general, these fibers have the desirable property of being non-absorbent since .they are non-porous and impervious to moisture. Fibers of this character are often referred to as hydrophobic.

Such an open net material is also crisp and stiff so that after the folds 25 are gathered together and stapled, they extend radially outward from their common fastening at 28, producing a generally rounded configuration or ball shape. Of course, because of the irregularities which are normal and inherent in the manufacture, the shape is not truly spherical but is instead irregular, and likewise varies from one puff to another so that they cannot be said to have a definitely uniform final shape. Fabrics of this type are not woven from twisted yarn but are made by other processes and typically appear to have a honeycomb construction, as shown in FIG. 4. The size of the openings between fibers is not critical and may differ with the overall size of the final puff, bigger openings being used with a bigger puff or heavier fibers.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the method of making the puff illustrated herein is not limited to a continuous operation but that the puffs can be made individually by what may be termed a batch operation. The chief difference in this case would be that the cutting operation would take place earlier, as, for example, before the several layers are laid one on top of another or immediately after the sewing step.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that various changes in the scrub puff constituting the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly,

it is to be understood that the foregoing description is considered to be illustrative of, rather than limitative upon, the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A scrub puff comprising a plurality of elongated layers of open net fabric; stitching extending centrally and longitudinally of the layers for substantially the fun length thereof, securing only the layers together; the stitched layers being gathered lengthwise and compressed tightly in random folds; and a single metallic staple centrally of the puff engaging and holding the folds in gathered position but allowing the free portions of the layers around the staple to extend outwardly away from the fastening means in random directions to present a general ball shape to the. puff.

2. A scrub puff comprising a plurality of elongated layers of open net fabric; stitching extending centrally and longitudinally of the layers for substantially the full length thereof, securing only the layers together; the stitched layers being gathered lengthwise and compressed tightly in random folds; and fastening means centrally of the puff engaging and holding the folds in gathered position but allowing the free portions of the layers around.

the fastening means to extend outwardly away from the fastening means in random directions to present a general ball shape to the puff.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,599,095 6/1952 Daniel et al. l5209 2,841,905 7/1958 Wanchek 161-10 2,948,003 8/1960 Tamsberg 15--209 X 3,146,479 9/1964 Stoker 15-209X 3,205,519 9/1965 Nowlin et al. 15--209 X OTHER REFERENCES Notion and Novelty Review, April 1959 (page 66). CHARLES A. WILMUT H, Primary Examiner.

L. G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SCRUB PUFF COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED LAYERS OF OPEN NET FABRIC; STITCHING EXTENDING CENTRALLY AND LONGITUDINALLY OF THE LAYERS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH THEREOF, SECURING ONLY THE LAYERS TOGETHER; THE STITCHED LAYERS BEING GATHERED LENGTHWISE AND COMPRESSED TIGHTLY IN RANDOM FOLDS; AND A SINGLE METALLIC STAPLE CENTRALLY OF THE PUFF ENGAGING AND HOLDING THE FOLDS IN GATHERED POSITION BUT ALLOWING THE FREE PORTIONS OF THE LAYERS AROUND THE STAPLE TO EXTEND OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM THE FASTENING MEANS IN RANDOM DIRECTIONS TO PRESENT A GENERAL BALL SHAPE TO THE PUFF. 